Drain
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
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From: California
Drain
Hello:
I have a 2000 six speed.
Unfortunately, there is an annoying drain on the battery; every three days, if I don't drive the car, the battery gets run down and the car won't start.
When the ignition is off, something that should be off is still on. I had the battery tested at a couple of shops and that's what they told me.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be or how I could track it down myself before taking it to the dealer?
Thanks.
I have a 2000 six speed.
Unfortunately, there is an annoying drain on the battery; every three days, if I don't drive the car, the battery gets run down and the car won't start.
When the ignition is off, something that should be off is still on. I had the battery tested at a couple of shops and that's what they told me.
Does anyone have any idea what the problem could be or how I could track it down myself before taking it to the dealer?
Thanks.
Pro
Joined: May 2005
Posts: 592
Likes: 17
From: Tempe AZ
There's two ways. This assumes your battery really is good. I'm sure a shop would have tried to sell you a new one if it wasn't.
#1 Hook up meter to check the readings. Pull a fuse and wait a day and see if that drain is still present. Keep on going one fuse at a time.
#2 Take good notes and pull half the fuses ! If drain still persists, replace those and pull half of the remaining half. A little faster but you need to keep good notes.
We are assuming no recent installs and a quick glance doesn't see any loose wires, humming noises or weird sounds
#1 Hook up meter to check the readings. Pull a fuse and wait a day and see if that drain is still present. Keep on going one fuse at a time.
#2 Take good notes and pull half the fuses ! If drain still persists, replace those and pull half of the remaining half. A little faster but you need to keep good notes.
We are assuming no recent installs and a quick glance doesn't see any loose wires, humming noises or weird sounds
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
Here's a pretty good link showing how to hook up a multimeter to check the current draw. If you search the C5 tech archives for battery drain, battery discharging, battery dead, you will find many more threads on this, that may help point you in the right direction.
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...=Battery+drain
http://forums.corvetteforum.com/show...=Battery+drain
Last edited by Greg_E; Jan 16, 2007 at 06:15 AM.
Instructor
Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 163
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From: Frisco Texas
Pull the negative cable off your battery.hook one end of a test light to the cable and one end to the post .If the light comes on there is a draw.Now pull a fuse...if the light goes out ,that is the curcuit,if not ,replace the fuse and try another.This is fast and accurate.Remember that any open door or hood light will cause a light ,so disable those(or just hold in the switch.) Good Luck!
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Pull the negative cable off your battery.hook one end of a test light to the cable and one end to the post .If the light comes on there is a draw.Now pull a fuse...if the light goes out ,that is the curcuit,if not ,replace the fuse and try another.This is fast and accurate.Remember that any open door or hood light will cause a light ,so disable those(or just hold in the switch.) Good Luck!
That will NOT work. You can NOT use a test light!! The C5 has a constant 20 milliamp drain due the the BCM and PCM needing to be powered all the time. Use the amp meter test!
If your much higher than 20 milliamps you can pull fuses and relay t see where the excessive current draw is coming from. You will not be able to pull the BCM fuses cause the BCM controls everything. BC
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
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From: California
Test Light
I appreciate the test light idea. I'll try that first, since I'm not a mechanic and that approach seems simple enough.
I went looking for a digital multimeter today, but am not sure which brand/type to get or what the capabilities of it should be.
Any suggestions?
I went looking for a digital multimeter today, but am not sure which brand/type to get or what the capabilities of it should be.
Any suggestions?
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Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
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From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Go to radio shack, sears, and even Auto Zone or Advanced. You do not need to get fancy or expensive. You need to measure AC Volts, DC Volts, Resistance (ohms) and Current. The meter should be able read to at least 10 AMPS. You should be able to find one for around $30-$50 bucks.
Here is my meter in series reading the correct reading:
BC
Here is my meter in series reading the correct reading:
BC
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Joined: Jan 2007
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From: California
Exactly
Thanks for the pictures.
I'm looking at the second one and want to double check the way you've got the wires/cable connected.
Here's what it looks like to me:
The negative black lead from the multimeter is connected to a green wire, which is connected to the negative battery terminal. Another green lead from that terminal is connected to the positive red wire, which leads back to the multimeter and goes into the 10A plug on the meter. Right?
Also, thanks for the heads up on leaving the car in reverse.
I'm looking at the second one and want to double check the way you've got the wires/cable connected.
Here's what it looks like to me:
The negative black lead from the multimeter is connected to a green wire, which is connected to the negative battery terminal. Another green lead from that terminal is connected to the positive red wire, which leads back to the multimeter and goes into the 10A plug on the meter. Right?
Also, thanks for the heads up on leaving the car in reverse.
Melting Slicks
Joined: Jun 2002
Posts: 2,246
Likes: 66
From: Middletown CT
To measure current (Amps) you put the meter in the circuit. The black meter lead goes to the - battery terminal. The red meter lead goes to the - battery cable. Make sure you have the meter set to DC amps, as shown in Bill's picture.
battery negative terminal> black meter lead> -or com plug on the meter> through the meter >10 amp plug on the meter> red meter lead> negative battery cable.
battery negative terminal> black meter lead> -or com plug on the meter> through the meter >10 amp plug on the meter> red meter lead> negative battery cable.
Last edited by Greg_E; Jan 16, 2007 at 06:41 PM.
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Where in the WORLD did you hear this?????This is another C6 (NOT C5 ) issue. The 05 & some 06 C6 cars had this issue! C5's NEVER had this issue! It is just an un true statement! The "owners manual does state to shift the trans to reverse upon leaving the car but not to shut off electrical accessories!!!
So now Ive herd that the C5 has a DBS (dead battery syndrome) issue and now this!
If you can tell me what electric accessories it shuts off and how it does it, ill eat crow!!!
Bill C
BC
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Joined: Jan 2007
Posts: 96
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From: California
Okay, so it looks like I can't post the photo of my meter.
Here's the link, if you want to have a look at it.
http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3320-Inn.../dp/B000EVYGZA
The meter should work.
What about the green connecting wires shown in Bill Curlee's pictures. Would any wire do, or is there a specific gauge?
Here's the link, if you want to have a look at it.
http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3320-Inn.../dp/B000EVYGZA
The meter should work.
What about the green connecting wires shown in Bill Curlee's pictures. Would any wire do, or is there a specific gauge?
Last edited by Uptospeed; Jan 17, 2007 at 02:23 PM.
Le Mans Master
Joined: Dec 2003
Posts: 5,561
Likes: 448
From: Atlanta metro Ga.
Where in the WORLD did you hear this?????This is another C6 (NOT C5 ) issue. The 05 & some 06 C6 cars had this issue! C5's NEVER had this issue! It is just an un true statement! The "owners manual does state to shift the trans to reverse upon leaving the car but not to shut off electrical accessories!!!
So now Ive herd that the C5 has a DBS (dead battery syndrome) issue and now this!
If you can tell me what electric accessories it shuts off and how it does it, ill eat crow!!!
Bill C
BC
Last time I checked our T-56's didn't have a gear selection switch. Looks like you put him straight. 
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
Okay, so it looks like I can't post the photo of my meter.
Here's the link, if you want to have a look at it.
http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3320-Inn.../dp/B000EVYGZA
The meter should work.
What about the green connecting wires shown in Bill Curlee's pictures. Would any wire do, or is there a specific gauge?
Here's the link, if you want to have a look at it.
http://www.amazon.com/Equus-3320-Inn.../dp/B000EVYGZA
The meter should work.
What about the green connecting wires shown in Bill Curlee's pictures. Would any wire do, or is there a specific gauge?
BC
Tech Contributor
Joined: Dec 1999
Posts: 32,910
Likes: 2,402
From: Anthony TX
CI 6,7,8,9,11 Vet
St. Jude Donor '08
It dosent matter much what type of wire as long as it not something like phone or bell wire! Current needs wire diameter to flow properly. If you try to shove too many electrons too rapidly through a very small wire it will heat up and effect the device operation. Your only working with 7-8 amps for a breif period of time.
BC
BC
Melting Slicks
Joined: Feb 2006
Posts: 2,092
Likes: 5
From: Fayetteville Arkansas
listen to Bill Curlee
My 2000 had this problem, it ended up being a problem with the instrument cluster panel going bad..... that was the constant drain. I went through the battery and alternator tests and it wasn't either. After doing the meter test that Bill had suggested I figured out it was the cluster... got that fixed and now no more problems. Test the Battery and alternator.... then clean grounds.... then perform the meter test on the battery.... read the codes fromm the DIC and then post here and we'll all figure it out! Good luck... and keep us posted.
Thomas
Thomas